What SABA makes
SABA Corp. is the manufacturer behind the brand, with locations in Stockton, California; Lakeland, Florida; and Joliet, Illinois. The SABA refrigeration product line is built for restaurant kitchens, bars and stores:
- Reach-in refrigerators and freezers with one, two or three doors, solid stainless steel or glass door
- Sandwich, salad and pizza prep tables
- Undercounter units and chef bases — drawer refrigerators that sit under the cooking line
- SABA back bar coolers, beer dispensers and bottle coolers for beverage service
- Glass door merchandisers, deli display cases and chest freezers
SABA: A Good-Quality, Reliable Brand
The truth is, it is hard today to find an affordable commercial equipment brand with a local presence — one where the price of a refrigerator doesn't sink the owner of a local business. SABA is one: a Florida location in Lakeland and authorized service here in Tampa Bay.
It is an economical line, and it's built like one — in a good way. Stainless steel interior and exterior. A bottom-mounted compressor a technician can actually reach. A digital temperature control, a self-closing door with a lock, adjustable shelves that accommodate tall containers, heavy-duty casters for easy movement when it's time to clean behind the unit. Nothing exotic to fail, nothing exotic to pay for.
For a café, a second kitchen, a church hall, a c-store cooler, SABA does the job. Tell us how hard your kitchen runs and we'll size it honestly. We know how to keep your business profitable — without the extra cost of a refrigerator that is more expensive than the job needs.
What matters with any commercial refrigerator is what happens after the sale. Shopping for a two door reach-in, you can buy this brand from a big-box store, a restaurant supply retailer or marketplace sellers online. Compare prices — then ask each supplier who picks up the phone when the box stops cooling. SABA's customer service handles the claim; somebody local still has to show up. A warranty is a piece of paper until somebody answers.
The SABA warranty
From SABA's own warranty sheet:
| What you bought | Parts and labor | Compressor, total |
|---|---|---|
| Reach-in refrigerators and freezers | 2 years | 5 years |
| Prep tables, undercounter units, chef bases, bar equipment, display cases | 1 year | 5 years |
The fine print that matters
- Commercial kitchens only. A unit installed in a home or garage is not covered.
- The lower 48 states. Alaska and Hawaii are excluded.
- Register right after delivery. SABA's warranty text says 30 days; its registration form says 60. Use the shorter one.
- Its own outlet. No extension cords, and 3 inches of air around the unit.
- The compressor years cover the compressor itself, not the fans and controls around it.
- The manufacturer's warranty stays with the original buyer.
How buying a SABA through us works
- Call or text us what you need to keep cold and how much floor space you have.
- We match a model and quote the unit and the delivery before you order.
- The item ships from SABA's warehouse to your door. Ask us whether your shipping quote includes liftgate service; without a loading dock, you want it.
- We can sell to any state. SABA's warranty covers the lower 48.
- In Tampa Bay, we are also your service call. Outside our area, SABA says its own network has more than 350 technicians nationwide.
No "lowest price guarantee" banners here — just one quote and a phone that gets answered.
Which SABA refrigerator fits your kitchen?
Three questions, one model number.
Refrigerators hold 33 to 41°F. Freezers are set between −8 and 0°F. Glass doors sell product; solid doors hold temperature better when the kitchen is hot. If the door opens every two minutes, buy solid.
Searches for "commercial reach in refrigerator" in the United States, by month
Searches peak in August and September at 6,600 a month and drop to 880 in November. Most kitchens shop after the summer heat has already found the weak refrigerator. Order before summer and you choose the unit instead of rushing it. Source: Ubersuggest, May 2025 to April 2026.
How a commercial refrigerator works, part by part
The wiring diagram inside every SABA cabinet lists the parts that do the work. Here is what each one does, in the order the cold is made.
Compressor
The pump. It squeezes the refrigerant and pushes it around the sealed system. In a commercial unit it is sized to pull the temperature back down after every door opening, all shift long.
Start relay and overload protector
They start the compressor and shut it off if it overheats or draws too much current. Small parts that protect the expensive one.
Condenser coil and condenser fan
Where the heat leaves the box. The fan pulls room air across the coil behind the lower front grille. Keep that coil clean and the compressor works less.
Metering device and filter drier
They feed the refrigerant to the cold side at the right rate and keep moisture out of the system.
Evaporator coil and evaporator fan
Where the cold is made. The fan pushes cold air across every shelf, so the cabinet recovers quickly after the door opens.
Digital temperature control and sensors
The control reads the cabinet temperature, decides when the compressor runs and schedules the defrost.
Defrost heater
On a freezer, it melts the frost off the evaporator on a schedule. Two small heaters keep the drain pan and the drain line from freezing.
Door frame heater
On a freezer, it keeps the frame from sweating and icing, so the gasket doesn't freeze to the cabinet.
Door gasket, self-closing hinges and door switch
The gasket seals the cold in, the hinges pull the door shut when a cook walks away, and the switch runs the light.
Refrigerant
The tag inside a two-door S-47F freezer we photographed reads R290: a 3.88-ounce charge, 115 volts, 7.6 amps. R290 is propane, and the whole charge is about a quarter of a one-pound camping cylinder. Sealed-system work belongs to a technician with the right tools, not a Saturday project.
Why these parts last longer than a household refrigerator's
A household refrigerator is built for a kitchen where the door opens a few times an hour. A commercial reach-in is built for a cook line. The difference is in the parts:
- The compressor and both fans are sized for continuous work and constant door openings.
- Both coils are fan-cooled, so the system moves heat faster and recovers sooner.
- The cabinet is stainless steel inside and out, with foam insulation, and it stands up to daily cleaning.
- Every part is separate and replaceable. A failed fan motor or control is a repair, not a new refrigerator.
Put a household refrigerator on a cook line and it wears out fast. These parts are built for that work.
That tag also shows the unit is listed by Intertek to UL 471 and to NSF/ANSI 7, the sanitation standard for commercial refrigerators and freezers. Before you call anyone about a SABA, take a photo of the tag inside your cabinet: model and serial number are the first two things SABA and we will ask for.
A SABA lasts longer when it starts right
A refrigerator's service life can be extended. It takes a correct installation and setup on day one and proper maintenance after that.
On day one
- Set the unit on a level floor, indoors, with 3 inches of air around it.
- Give it its own outlet on a dedicated circuit. No extension cord.
- Let it reach temperature before you load product: 33 to 41°F for a refrigerator, −8 to 0°F for a freezer.
Every month
- Brush and vacuum the condenser coil behind the lower front grille. In a greasy kitchen, don't skip a month.
- Wipe the door gaskets with mild soapy water and check that the doors close on their own.
- Keep boxes away from the fan and the air vents inside.
Not sure about the outlet or the spot? Call us before you plug it in: 813-522-0014.
Already own a SABA that stopped cooling?
We repair SABA refrigerators and freezers across Tampa Bay, in warranty and out. A warranty claim is opened with SABA first — model, serial number, proof of purchase. Out of warranty, our diagnostic visit for a business is $129, credited toward the repair.
Bought one for the garage? A commercial reach-in makes a great beer fridge and a poor warranty claim: SABA's terms exclude home installations. We'll still fix it.
Who you're dealing with
Perfect Appliance Repair Tampa is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating and has more than 200 five-star reviews across major platforms. Those customer reviews are for repair work, backed by 20+ years of hands-on technical experience. Selling SABA is new for us, and we won't pretend otherwise. What isn't new is making the equipment run. We stand behind our work.
Where we service SABA
Service calls cover Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties — from Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Dade City down through Tampa, Brandon and Riverview, and across the bay to Clearwater and St. Petersburg. SABA's Florida location is in Lakeland, one county east of Tampa.
Questions people ask us about SABA
Is SABA a good commercial refrigerator brand?
Yes. SABA is a good-quality, reliable brand with simple, serviceable construction: a stainless steel cabinet, a bottom-mounted compressor, a digital temperature control. With a technician nearby, it's a sound choice for most small and mid-size kitchens.
What is the SABA warranty?
Per SABA's warranty sheet, reach-in refrigerators and freezers carry 2 years of parts and labor and 5 years on the compressor. Prep tables, undercounter units, chef bases, bar equipment and display cases carry 1 year of parts and labor and 5 years on the compressor. Coverage applies to commercial installations in the lower 48 states.
Does the SABA warranty cover a refrigerator in a home or garage?
No. SABA's terms exclude residential and non-food-service installations. We can still repair the unit as a regular paid service call.
Where does SABA ship from?
Units ship from SABA's warehouse. SABA lists three locations: Stockton, California; Lakeland, Florida; and Joliet, Illinois.
Who services SABA equipment in Tampa Bay?
Perfect Appliance Repair Tampa is an authorized SABA service provider. We cover Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
What refrigerant does SABA use?
The two-door S-47F freezer we photographed is charged with 3.88 ounces of R290. Check the tag inside your own unit's door for its refrigerant and charge.
What size SABA refrigerator is right for a small business?
A one-door S-23 is 29 inches wide with 23 cubic feet of storage capacity. A two-door S-47 is 54 inches wide with 47 cubic feet. Measure the doorway it has to pass through before you measure the wall it will stand on.
How do I clean a SABA commercial refrigerator?
Unplug it first. Brush and vacuum the condenser coil behind the lower front grille — monthly in a greasy kitchen. Wipe the door gaskets with mild soapy water, and keep boxes away from the interior air vents so the unit can cool properly.
Does a SABA reach-in need special wiring?
The one-door S-23R is listed at 115 volts with a standard NEMA 5-15P plug. SABA's warranty terms require the unit to sit on its own dedicated circuit, with no extension cord.